The VIT-2 was derived from the VIT-1 prototype, but it was given 783kW Klimov M-105 engines and its structure was revised. It was a low-winged, twin-engined aircraft with a mixed structure. The monocoque fuselage was made in halves of 'shpon', molded birch plywood and a large fuel tank was placed between the pilot and rear gunner. The fuel tank was moved to the rear and the canopy was lengthened in consequence. The wing structure was built from a mix of steel tubes and duralumin with a duralumin skin. The empennage was redesigned as a twin tail. The main legs of the conventional landing gear retracted aft into the engine nacelles and were given fairing to reduce drag when retracted, but the tail-wheel was fixed. The nose was extensively glazed to give the bombardier/navigator good visibility and he was armed with a 20mm ShVAK cannon with 10° of vertical travel. The rear gunner/radio operator sat in a manually operated turret armed with another ShVAK and he was also provided with a retractable pair of 7.62mm ShKAS machine guns for ventral defense. Two 37mm Shpitalnyi Sh-37 cannon and two more ShVAKs were mounted in the wing roots. Up to 600kg (1,300lb) of bombs could be carried internally in the fuselage or a pair of 500kg (1,100lb) FAB-500 bombs could be carried under the wings.[1]
The prototype was first flown on 11 May 1938 by the famous pilot Valery Chkalov and had its propellers replaced by constant speed VISh-61 propellers shortly afterwards.[1] It was submitted for its State acceptance trials in October 1938[2] where it proved to be faster at sea level than the VIT-1, 486km/h versus 450km/h, but slightly slower at altitude, 513km/h at 4500m (14,800feet) compared to 530km/h at 3000m (10,000feet). It was recommended for production as a high-speed dive bomber provided that some of the armament was removed to increase its speed.[1]